26-08-2009 02:29:04

Lance Armstrong said Johan Bruyneel, who oversaw his seven Tour de France wins with the U.S. Postal Service and Discovery teams, will join his new RadioShack Corp.- sponsored cycling squad next year.

“Bruyneel is a master at acquiring guys and building the best teams,” Armstrong, 37, said in an interview in Dublin, where he is attending a cancer summit hosted by his Livestrong foundation. “He’ll be there.”

Bruyneel, a Belgian, recorded his ninth triumph in the Tour this year by managing Astana’s Alberto Contador to his second victory. Armstrong, also on Astana, finished third in a comeback from a 3 1/2-year retirement.

Astana spokesman Philippe Maertens said Bruyneel is under contract with the Kazakhstan-backed team through the end of 2010.

“His release has got to be negotiated,” Maertens said in a telephone interview. “It’s not clear how long this will take. It could be a few days, a week or longer.”

Armstrong refused to rule out inviting former U.S. Postal teammate Floyd Landis to the new team. Landis won the 2006 Tour de France, then lost the title for doping.

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